I had never been one to resist combat but this was getting a ridiculous. I had to get back to my girl and the fact that I couldn’t even communicate with her was the worst of all.

What happened to a quick turnaround mission?

After a short briefing at the Cleary-Kitts Air Force Base in Guam, Axe and I had flown to Camp Zero only to be sent almost immediately to the outlying region of a small rebel village in The Fields where we were ordered to survey and report.

Seriously?

All this way just to survey and report?

What the hell is going on!

I could sense that Axe was confused as well, but he seemed more excited at having one last chance to see active combat. It didn’t even really seem to bother him that him and I, two highly trained EFP soldiers, were being sent on what was basically an errand that quite frankly, low-ranking officers could do.

Pull it together, Ty.

Just get through this mission and get back home…

Focus…

The rebel village was only about twenty minutes away from Camp Zero by helicopter but completely different terrain, it might as well have been on another planet. The climate, for one thing, of the two places, could not have been more at odds with each other.

Camp Zero was a desert US Military Base—quite impermanent looking, to be honest—and it was surrounded by jagged mountains, sand, and a distinct lack of water. But despite the fact that Camp Zero was indeed a temporary base and one that wasn’t even formally recognized by the US government, it was still expertly erected by the hundred or so soldiers stationed there. Every tent perfectly aligned with the one before it, every vehicle parked just so, every weapon lined up with intention.

Camp Zero was order amidst disheveled chaos. It was predictability amidst the randomness of this bizarre and violent world. But, it was also dry, dusty, blisteringly hot during the day and freezing cold at night, like any good desert should be.

The Fields, however, were about a hundred square miles of lush, thick, dense jungle—perfect for hiding weapons and transporting prisoners undetected. But if I’m being fair, it was also surprisingly beautiful. It was alive and wild and every shade of green imaginable and wet and secretive and mysterious.

Yes, I was completely irritated at the level of (what felt like) disorganization of this mission, but I had to admit, The Fields were one of the most beautiful and intriguing places I’d ever been. Shame, really, that The Fear Division had lay claim to it.

And lay claim to it they had…

Over the years, the Fear Division had created a sophisticated world of waterways under the protection of near-impenetrable tree tops. They could move about easily while we struggled to get even a crude handle on their general movements.

“And speaking of,” said Axe with frustration on the second morning of staring at pretty much an empty village, “are we even sure which movements we are supposed to be tracking?”

We’d been given very little detail except that some chatter was picked up on the rebel forces’ radio waves about ransom for newly acquired assets (aka kidnapped children) and there seemed to be reason to believe they were American, and there was talk of a large-scale detonation on US property if ransom wasn’t paid.

And that is where the rebels got our attention. It’s also why Axe and I were paired together for this mission—even though I still thought it was a total waste of my time. Seriously guys, call me when something is about to blow up, not when someone is possibly thinking about maybe blowing something up. I need action, I thrive on it.

Oh stop kidding yourself, Ty.

It’s not action you’re craving…

It’s her.

But the fact is, here I was and I would have to deal with it until I could get back to my girl. Trouble is, no one notable had reported their kids were missing, no one had received a ransom request, and no one had any idea how The Fear Division would be able to get a hold of materials for a large-scale detonation. Big grandiose explosions weren’t their style.

Something wasn’t right.

Nothing was going on and I didn’t understand why we’d been sent to survey what was turning out to be the most well-behaved group of rebel forces I’d ever seen.

We’d brought this up—politely of course—with our Commanding Officer back on base at Camp Zero, but he was sure the intel was good. He was sure that something was going on at this village. And so, we stayed.

“I know what you mean,” said Axe. “I was here maybe six years ago on a short mission, I dunno, could’ve been seven years—”

I interrupted him, “but then you found your lovey dovey and you gave up the combat life for being a rancher and a husband and a big ol’ pussy.”

We both stifled our laughter as I made smoochy sounds in Axe’s direction. I retrieved a small cloth from my chest pocket and wiped my brow, probably for the millionth time that morning. Making a joke felt good, it broke up the boredom. I cleared my throat, back to business, and I went to readjust my rifle on my right shoulder, bringing the scope to my eye. That’s when Axe leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“You’re…. the… pussy!”

We both rolled over laughing.

“Ta fuck you talking about, brotha!?”

“Lizzy Collins is what I’m talking about you big sucker,” Axe laughed. “You’re in deep, bro.”

The mere mention of her name made my gut do a summersault. I was frozen but boiling hot all over, not to mention an immediate sensation in my…

“Dude,” I tried to hide my face under my cap as I readjusted my assault rifle again. “Nah, it’s not like that.”

“Okay man,” Axe chuckled, clearly not buying it. “Cool.”

Axe also readjusted his rifle, all the while sporting a big, fat, satisfied grin.

“Cool,” I said quietly, pretending not to notice.

I was out of breath and it wasn’t from the scorching heat but from the thought of her.

God, I missed her.

Had it been only been a couple of days?

I once had shrapnel lodged in my ankle for a whole month and that was way less painful than being away from Lizzy. She was cool and gorgeous as hell. And under that sassy exterior, she was completely pure and sweet. Lizzy was a million women in one—there was so much to her, so many different sides, she was so complex and for the brief time I was with her, nothing else mattered. A dangerous thought for someone like me. But I swear if this woman told me to give it all up and open a milkshake shack in Florida, I’d probably do it just to please her.

Wow…

I am completely in love.

Wait…

Can it be true?

Is this what love feels like?

Jesus Christ I have no idea.

All I knew was that Lizzy Collins had, in one night, made everything else in my life seem like cannon fodder. Nothing else mattered. This stranger, this woman I barely knew, this amazingly perfect being I had only just met had somehow become the centre of my thoughts, my feelings, my plans for the future. It was jarring, to say the least.

I just had to get through this mission and get back to her. At the very least to see if she felt the same way. But to do that, I had to focus on the task at hand. I wouldn’t be much use to her dead. And that was a serious possibility at any moment in a land like this.

“Hey, man,” I tried to change the subject with Axe. “Do we even know who these kids are that were supposedly kidnapped?”

Axe readjusted his position but didn’t look at me, “you know as much as I do, bro. This is the weirdest mission I’ve ever been sent on. Makes no sense.”

“I know, buddy,” I said. “I was just trying to change the subject from Lizzy. I might be in deep on this one.”

“I know,” Axe chuckled again. “So, are you thinking of a spring wedding? Are you going to take her last name?”

For the first time we both looked up from our rifles to meet each other’s gaze.

“Up yours,” I smiled.

“You’re in loooooooooooove,” Axe grinned at me.

All of a sudden I couldn’t look him in the eyes. I bit the inside of my cheek and shifted my focus back to the village where finally there seemed to be a bit of movement. One of the rebels was walking out of his hut and towards another, smaller hut. We couldn’t really get a good view because of jungle obstruction so I wasn’t expecting much but I held focus as best I could.

The rebel walked slowly across the grounds. He was very tall and skinny with only flip flops and shorts on, no shirt, and he had an assault rifle strung across his chest. From my scope I could see that he was smoking.

“Just because we’ve finally locked in on one of these shits doesn’t mean you’re off the hook,” smiled Axe as we both followed the rebel’s movements. “I want to know all the details about Lizzy: the girl who took down the great Ty Powers.”

“Shhhhhh,” I smiled as I narrowed my focus on the village below.

The tall thin man walked towards the small hut. Our vision was still quite obscured by the giant palms but we could see that he was clearly approaching a small group of children, locals, possibly his own. He seemed happy and calm.

Axe persisted, “seriously Ty, I’m happy for you. I’m telling you, I also doubted that I would ever settle down, but man, once I met Honor, wow, everything changed…”

Axe continued to speak but to be honest I tuned him out. Something wasn’t right.

Like, really not right.

As I surveyed the children through my scope between all the thick jungle brush I thought I could see the figure of a child who didn’t fit in with the rest of the group.

“What the…” I heard myself whisper.

I adjusted my scope so I could see more clearly, I wasn’t looking to shoot, I just wanted to see what this guy was up to. He was closer now, to the hut, and he seemed to be talking to the kids inside. I could barely see their figures moving about in between the small gaps in the stick walls of the hut… or was it straw? I was so far back I couldn’t even really see what the damn thing was made of.

Tthis is so frustrating.

Axe’s voice persisted in my ear, “it’s true what they say, finding a good woman, it will change you. It’s why this is my last mission. I swear it. I will go into hiding if I have to. This is amazing, obviously, you know, being out here. I love it, but I can’t wait to get back to my wife, seriously it’s just the greatest feeling when you’ve finally found your true home…”

I was ignoring Axe almost completely now. I could see that although four of the kids seemed to be local, as in, they were Fear Division children, the other kid was definitely American.

A little boy, maybe?

Yes, definitely a boy.

Where the hell had they been hiding this little guy for the last couple days?

None of the kids were over the age of five. They all looked like toddlers, really. I couldn’t be sure. Maybe three, maybe four years old? I’m not exactly an expert on kids. They all look small to me. I blinked a couple times and reached for my eagle-eye rangefinders, the best binoculars on the planet.

Axe continued, oblivious that I was ignoring him, “I would love to see you settle down, honestly, I think this would be so good for you and another thing—”

“Axe,” I whispered as I finally got my chance to see the American kid more clearly.

“I know, I know,” he said. “I’m going on too much. I just really like Lizzy and you know, she’s Honor’s best friend and I think it would be cool, imagine the BBQ’s! It would be so great—”

“No,” I said harshly.

“Jeez, fine,” Axe said, mildly offended. “I was just trying to—”

“Axe,” I said as a wave of dread rushed over me. I was used to adrenaline. I was fueled by it. But this, no, this was panic. I had to take a long, slow, and controlled exhale before I said what I had to say, “look at that little kid down there. Isn’t that your son?”